Emma: Yay! Another great chapter from Olivia! Now I get to have a real fun chapter because we have many surprises to throw in! So, instead of my normal idle chitchat and such, I will instead jump right into my chapter! Well, once I say the disclaimer but… oh to hell with it all now I'm gone onto one of my rampages of it not actually being right into things! We don't own anything!
Chapter 9: Puzzle Pieces
While the others made a fuss over what just happened, Jhonen was content in his own little world, watching the video he just made. The next day, he ran around the school like a mad man, screaming "The Jonas Brothers can kiss my ass! My video beasts theirs! 10,000 hits, bitches!".
Vanessa watched her boyfriend sprint around yelling this and chuckled to herself as she and Rachel sat in the courtyard waiting for the others to meet them for lunch. Rachel said nothing and kept reading the book in her lap. Nessa finally gave a sigh and grabbed the book and read the title. Rachel blushed as her sister raised an eyebrow.
"Jane Eyre?" Vanessa read softly. Rachel nodded and took the book back, closing it gently and tracing the title with her fingers." Rae that is not a good book to read when you're already very depressed… I mean I read it right after mom died and I almost started crying in class!"
"Gar said I should read it," Rachel said with the smallest of smiles. Vanessa's lovely sapphire eyes narrowed as Rachel traced the cover and tried not to look at her twin." He said it was like Edgar Allen Poe, but a little happier at the end… It's a romantic novel meets gothic undertones; Gar lent me his copy…"
"I thought I told him to stay away from you," Vanessa said through clenched teeth. Rachel said nothing as Vanessa glared at the concrete." I swear when I get my hands on-"
"You can't hurt him if it was me who can't stay away," Rachel said softly. Vanessa's anger melted into concern as she wrapped her older sister in a hug."Nessa, I can't stay away from him, he's my best friend! And you know he dumped Teresa last week! He's been trying to make up for getting him and Matthew suspended for a week, and he… he cares about me."
"I care about you too!" Nessa cried. Then to Rachel's sad gaze," But I can't change your mind can I?" Vanessa asked letting Rachel go from the hug. Rachel shook her head and stood to leave." Hey if you're mad you could just ignore me, don't leave! I mean I respect what you said and if you care this much about him then okay, but if he so much as put s toe out of line again, he will be a very bloody friend to you."
"I'm not mad Nessa," Rachel said with a ghost of a smile," I'm just going to meet Gar in the library for lunch; we may be friends again, but he has to come up with a way to get the rest of you to forgive him; don't rat me out yet Nessa. I'm helping him with math this quarter and we're trying to piece our friendship back together…"
"Hey, I'm not a snitch," Nessa said raising her hands in a mock surrender," I'll keep quiet for awhile, but I still don't like him right now."
"Thank you sister," Rachel gave a real smile this time. She grinned widely down at her sister and waved before running off towards the library. Gar waited by the door, sitting on the bench and reading a think tome." Hey Gar…"
"Rachel," Gar said looking up and beaming at her. Rachel felt her breath catch in her throat and her heart leap at his smile. She didn't deserve this kind of heartache every time he smiled and said her name, but Rachel couldn't stay away from him (1)." So, did Nessa give you grief for skipping lunch again?"
"Nah," Rachel said brushing past him with a smile. Gar was at her heels in a second following her to the table in the far back corner of the library, hidden by bookshelves and vacant." She knows I'm here with you, but she won't tell. So, how's The Scarlet Letter?" She indicated the thick volume in his hands." You're reading it pretty fast seeing as I only gave it to you a few days ago…"
"It's okay," Gar said sitting beside Rachel, scooting closer than needed and grabbing her notebook," Not really my style, but if you say it's good I'll endure through it. So, what wonderful poetry are we writing today? Oh, not poetry, a sketch! My little 'Raven' is an artist and she never told me!" Gar put a hand to his heart and chuckled as Rachel reached for her book." I am hurt!"
"You're gonna be really hurt if you don't give that back!" Rachel chuckled. She finally grabbed the book, but her hand covered Gar's and she blushed. He looked up and realized, in her jump to grab the notebook, they were now nose-to-nose." Oh, I'm sorry…"
"Rachel, you should never apologize to me again," Gar said softly. His breath mingled with hers and Rachel shivered." I didn't realize Teresa was such… at loss for a better word, a bitch to you guys! She acts totally different around me, she's sweet and nice and well, totally the opposite of how she really is… I should have listened to you and Nessa, and the others though. You guys are my real family; I grew up in a foster home because my parents died in a boating accident. You guys are my family and you're my best friend. I mean you and I share a bond no one else can, Rae; you know what I feel and think even before I know it myself! I don't want to lose you ever again!"
Rachel said nothing but let him go, giving a reassuring smile to Gar as she turned away with a blush. She patted his hand, and smiled; her silent way of saying she felt the same and she would never leave.
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"Richie, hand me the wrench," Vic said from under his car. Richie threw the wrench to the boy as Jen, Nikki, and Carrie sat on the tool bench in back of the garage." Okay, any idea what's wrong with my baby?" Richie shrugged and Vic gave a cry of aggravation." Dude you are no help!"
"It's the fan belt hun," Carrie called from the bench. Vic looked up and gave a grin as he saw she was right." You're welcome."
"Now why do I keep these guys around again?" Vic called. Carrie giggled as Jhonen, who was busy watching a movie on his iPod, and Richie, who scowled, both protested at this." I mean I have my other baby that knows it all!"
"That's nice and all," Jhonen said scowling as Carrie kissed Vic gently," But aren't we supposed to be planning something for Perky twin, Miss Gloom and Doom, Rae and my Nessa?" Everyone grumbled, Jhon was right." Wow, there's a first I'm being responsible…"
"Hey guys," Becca called. She and Roy hurried in, dragging another member in too." And I brought an old friend who has some great ideas!"
"I think I have a plan," Gar called from the door. Everyone looked up at the boy as he grinned sheepishly." Hey, I know I'm not your favorite person right now, but I'd like to apologize and well say how much of an asshole I had been… But I have a great idea for the birthday! My foster dad has a ballroom he rents out, upstate; he offered to let us use it and we can get a caterer, and throw a surprise party for the girls!"
"That's actually a good idea," Carrie admitted," And I have to admit I missed you, 'Beast Boy'… I think we all did."
"Man I missed my little brother!" Vic said grabbing Gar up into a hug." There was no one to bug about my odd meat obsession! And I missed talking and playing games, and to be honest these guys are hopeless mechanic helpers!"
"Thanks you guys," Gar grinned," Now I believe we have a rocking party to plan for our favorite set of twins!"
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Emma: Yay! What exciting party can we cook up? You'll have to read on and see! R&R kiddies!
